This Punctuation Lesson, PowerPoint, two worksheets and Answer Key teaches the Common Core standard addressed in L 9-10. 2b : using Colons for introducing a list and quote. Teachers will be able to use this resource to completely teach the concept. With the PowerPoint, a lecture unfolds to include an activating strategy, teaching strategies and a summarizing strategy. The worksheet allows students to follow along with the PPT smoothly, while taking notes. Included are examples and activities for the entire class, partners, and individuals. Answer keys are provided for each activity.

Brain Breaks for your older students are physical activities that give your students a quick break so they return to the lesson with a better focus.    No prep: Just print and cut  Less than 4 minutes  Easy for Teacher and Students  Stress Reliever If a few of your students are hesitant to join in, offer to give the best participant one extra point on the current assignment. After the initial motivation, you will notice that students enjoy- and request brain breaks. Option 1 (SLIDES 4-10) Cut and pass out cards to individual students (four to a page). Option 2 (SLIDES 11-38) Show the entire class the PowerPoint slide. There are 28 brain breaks. Notes** Cards 1- 21 are for individual student movement. Card 22 requires 4 paperclips for each student. Card 23 requires an item for each student such as a pencil or piece of paper. Cards 24-28 are whole class activities and require teacher interaction. **You may want to listen to the pronunciation of the word on Card 26 before you begin (the pronunciation is available on Dictionary.com.) If you have any suggestions, please contact me at luckykroll@hotmail.com. Thank you! ~Kim

This is a complete lesson for the short story "What Do Fish Have To Do With Anything?" by Avi. No prep! This product includes: ---Lesson Plan in EATS format including an activating strategy, teaching strategies, and more. ---Five printable worksheets, which include comprehension questions, exit ticket, and more… ---Answer Keys ---Powerpoint, which includes Essential Questions, PALS reading strategy, Essential Question Sample Answer, and more… This lesson is Common Core aligned to : CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3 Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution. Thank you!

This printable requires no prep; print- and students to fill in. Different versions can be used in subjects ranging from literature to history to culinary arts to musical composition! Includes One extra large colored Two-Circle Venn Diagram One extra large Two-Circle Venn Diagram, black and white One Colored Three-Circle Venn Diagram One Three-Circle Venn Diagram, black and white One BLOCK Venn- easy to fill out! All Venn Diagrams are lined- so students can easily write inside! I have found the extra large Venn Diagram to be very successful! Some students prefer the BLOCK version. This five-slide PowerPoint in pdf is ready to print! Thanks! Great for novels, non-fiction, autobiography life lines, history and more!

Crocodiles and Alligators are intriguing subject matter! This product contains a lesson plan, 2 Powerpoints, a two-page worksheet, and a graphic organizer. Also included is an activity for students to draw what Crocs might look like in 200 million years. Students will discuss: What do Crocodiles eat? What characteristics have helped them survive while other species have become extinct? What would you name a crocodile? (although this is more of a creative "brain break," I've included names of crocs at our Texas zoo- in 2014.) How can a crocodile breathe and look around while submerged? How many species are there? and much more. Many crocodile body parts are discussed (teeth, eyes, tail, etc) as well as habits (inability to sweat, sounds, buoyancy, etc.) This 2 day lesson gives the option of allowing to use the graphic organizer to further research certain species and note findings. Teachers in grades 4-7 may choose to delete some of the more academic slides and keep the presentation simple. The PowerPoints are editable for that reason. (Originally, this lesson was created for an 8th grade class.) Thanks!!

Use this PowerPoint in its entirety - or add and delete to create a unit on animal habitats and biomes. Plenty of information and pictures are already here for you to use. Birds, Marine animals, Tundra, Dessert, Scorpion, Grassland, Forest, Armadillo, Porcupine, Sloth, Tiger, Ecosystem, Giraffe, and Recycling are all mentioned in this presentation. If your students are studying habitats, grab this resource today!

The PPT, lesson plan, worksheets, and exit ticket all focus on CCSS.L. 9-10.2. Teach punctuation to your secondary class with this no prep resource. Check out the reviews! With the PowerPoint, a lecture unfolds to include an activating strategy, teaching strategies, and summarizing strategies. Using the Essential Question: “When do I use a semicolon?” the worksheet allows students to follow along with the PPT smoothly, while taking notes.The PPT and worksheets focus on the correct ways to use the semicolon. Included are examples and activities. Answer keys are provided for each activity. Addressed Common Core Standards include: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.2.a Use a semicolon (and perhaps a conjunctive adverb) to link two or more closely related independent clauses Both “independent clauses” and “conjunctive adverb” are defined and examined in the lesson. Hope you enjoy this lesson! It will save you hours from creating a lesson from scratch! Thank you! ~Kim

Hyphenation conventions are the focus of CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.11-12.2.A. This product contains a PowerPoint, Lesson Plan, Worksheets and an activity on the use of Hyphens. There are many hyphen rules, but here are the 10 most common (and important) uses of hyphens: 1) Two words that, when linked, describe a noun 2.) Ex- words 3.) All compound numbers from 21-99 4.) Spelled-out fractions 5.) Self- words 6.) Well- words 7.) With figures or letter 8.) Between a prefix and a capitalized word 9.) New word blends 10.) Avoid confusion or an awkward combination of letters The second worksheet, “Matching Hyphens with a Rule” can be completed independently. The third worksheet “Hyphen Needed?” is a great paired activity because students can discuss which rule applies to each sentence. Finally, the FIRST worksheet is my favorite- because it helps students focus on the message of the PowerPoint lecture. When they are finished, they have a great study sheet that lists the ten rules! Answer Keys are provided. This product is aligned with CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.11-12.2A Observe hyphenation conventions. Thank you!

Secondary Word of the Day S.A.T. Bracelets S.A.T.-level vocabulary for your secondary students! These paper bracelets are ready-to-go! Simply print, cut, and tape them on students’ wrists. Add a bit of whimsy to education! Don’t think for a minute that your secondary students are too mature for paper bracelets; they LOVE them! Use these Word of the Day bracelets to help reinforce long-term learning. (Eradicate the “remember-for-the-test, then forget” strategy.) Students will be reminded of their vocabulary word throughout the day. Assign one word to each student per period- and watch them find students with the same word throughout the day. Watch students between classes discuss each other’s words. Hooray! These bracelets create a ripple effect, too. Students report that family members learn their words, too (especially their younger siblings– your future students)! At the end of the week, ask students to use the bracelets to create links for a Vocabulary Word Chain in their locker for year-long reinforcement. Included are “Don’t Forget,” “Test tomorrow,” and some blank bracelets for you to customize as study reminders for students (and parents)! This product includes: - 45 slips with (45) S.A.T.-level vocabulary words and definitions - notes/ directions - 1 free Cootie Catcher - 15 Reminder Bracelets (5 “Test Tomorrow”, 5 “Don’t Forget”, and 5 blanks for you to write on) This product is in PDF form and is not editable. Thanks! Kim Kroll

This printable allows students to cut and glue the different components of the food chain. All three pages are in black and white. Page 1- Students color, cut, and paste the animals in the correct order of the food chain. Page 2- Students color, cut, and paste the animals in the correct order of the food chain. Students also cut and paste the labels for four of the links in the chain (Producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, tertiary consumer). Page 3- This completed page can be used as an answer key, as a coloring page, or as a poster in your classroom.

Middle School Exit Slips are based on Common Core Literature Standards and can be used with any selection, any day! Just print, cut, and distribute! CCSS Aligned You can use each of the twenty-one tickets several times throughout the year with different literature selections. Although these are titled “Exit Tickets,” they can be used as activating strategies, homework slips, prompts for extemporaneous speeches, task cards… The uses are MANY. I have found these cards to be very successful with collaborative pairs as an informal assessment. Each of the 21 printable pages has four Exit Tickets. If you need 40 exit tickets, simply make 10 copies. Print, then cut along the lines. You may choose to laminate and keep them in a Ziplock bag to use more than once. (Since they work with any selection, students will benefit from repeated practice!) Two Exit Tickets that are included in this product: *How did the main character change during the story? (based on CCSS) *How might the story change if the ending was different? (based on Bloom’s Taxonomy) Each card will be the same size (easy collecting and stacking!). A box at the bottom of each card is provided for the score (easy grading!). I have also added 14 Bonus Exit Ticket ideas (common core aligned) that are more specific- PLUS a blank Exit Ticket page. Write in your own idea! These bonus tickets might not work well with every story, but when you find one that works for your selection, simply: cut, paste, and print! Exit Slips are the tickets to get out of the door. They help students process what they've learned by allowing them to reflect and summarize. Thank you!

This editable PowerPoint gives 20 slides of facts about hedgehogs. There are no graphics, but plenty of information. Feel free to add your own touches! The slides are attractive with borders, but more importantly, chock-full of facts about the East African Hedgehog. I have included all of the facts on a Word document for your convenience. Thanks!

An EATS lesson plan with an Essential Question, vocabulary, activating strategy, teaching strategies, and a summarizing strategy (Exit Ticket). ✓Worksheets- Just print and go! ✓Answer key ... are all included. ✓ The 20-slide PowerPoint, 5-page lesson plan, and 2-page worksheet are aligned with the CCSS.Lit. 6-7.3 & 6-7.5. Created to be easy to use and fully engaging, the lesson plan pairs with the worksheets that I have created to be very successful with "Eleven," a short story found in most middle school anthologies. The lesson has a sample answer to the Essential Question (How do characters respond to change as the plot moves toward a resolution?), which I have found to be extremely helpful for students. They are able to see an effective answer before they are expected to write one. The sample is on "The Three Little Pigs." Students get to discuss the example answer before they write their own response for the exit ticket. I have also included the instructions and sample for the PALS reading strategy- as I've found this to be an effective strategy with short stories in my classroom. Students will discuss being eleven, write a six-word memoir, read “Name” from House on Mango Street, and more. External and Internal conflict are discussed. If you have the short story “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros in your anthology, this lesson is for you!

"The Mysteries of Harris Burdick" by Chris Van Allsburg is the basis for this creative writing lesson. Check out the reviews below. The text is not included. Please secure a copy of "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick" by Chris Van Allsburg before buying this product as you will need the pictures for the lesson. This product includes: EATS Lesson plan Powerpoint Student worksheets Brainstorming worksheet Peer conference worksheet After teaching/ brainstorming the first day, the class will write (like their fingers are on fire!) for days 2-5. I have added a simple PowerPoint, but it is not essential to teaching the lesson. The PPT is editable if you desire to make changes. Fun lesson for your creative writers! Thank you.

This complete lesson for the short story “Too Soon A Woman” by Dorothy M. Johnson requires no prep! This product includes: ---3 day lesson plan in EATS format (including an activating strategy, teaching strategies, and more…) ---Six printable worksheets (including comprehension questions, discussion questions, exit tickets, and more…) ---Answer Keys ---28- Slide PowerPoint (including methods of characterization, PALS reading strategy Essential Question Sample Answer, and more…) This lesson is Common Core aligned to: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.3 Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision. I LOVE this story! The voice, the desperate situation, the narrator’s naïve hatred all tug at my heart! I especially love the last sentence’s revelation! The lesson discusses character traits, character motivation, point of view, and conflict. Each is clearly defined- and examples are given. During the three days, students are given the opportunity to work independently, in pairs, in groups, through writing, through speech, etc. Various activities will help with differentiated learning. This lesson is particularly effective in helping students answer the Essential Question (How can we analyze how particular lines of dialogue or a particular incident in a story reveal aspects of a character?) for three reasons: 1- Students practice answering in groups with a short fable BEFORE they read the text 2- Students are shown an example of an answer, which they critique BEFORE they read the text 3- Students read the text at least twice. Due to this preparation, students are able to successfully answer the E.Q. at the culmination of the lesson (on Day 3!). I hope you enjoy this lesson as much as I do! Thank you!

This no-prep lesson is includes a powerpoint, printables, plan and more to make teaching this short story a breeze! Included: -- Lesson Plan in EATS format with an Essential Question, vocabulary, activating strategy, teaching strategies, and a summarizing strategy (Exit Ticket)- aligned with the CCSS.Lit. 6.3 & 6.5 -- an original PowerPoint- that showcases the vocabulary definitions, discussion questions, sample answers, and more. Some slides have timers to keep students motivated to keep their discussions alive. --PALS reading strategy- a technique for reading to allow all students to read aloud (I use this a lot with short stories in my classroom!) --- 3 printable worksheets- No prep- Just print and go! ---an activity to mimic the author’s style. Students get to try their hand at writing a paragraph using Uchida’s sentence formation and style. --- Answer Keys -- two optional slides for differentiation. Students didn’t fully master the essential question? I have included an EXTRA Sample Answer. I often display this one as students are writing their exit tickets- so they can refer to it if they get “stuck.” A sample answer can also be printed and sent home for students to use as they write their own responses. The SAMPLE RESPONSE to the Essential Question is extremely helpful to struggling students. The sample is based on "The Three Little Pigs." Students get to see- and critique- a response before they are expected to write. Characterization is discussed in detail. Note: * Some of the activities and slides from this lesson come directly from my original product entitled “The Smallest Dragonboy.” If you have the short story “The Bracelet” by Yoshiko Uchida in your anthology, this lesson is for you! Created to be easy to use and fully engaging, the lesson plan pairs with the worksheets to be very successful with “The Bracelet,” a short story found in most middle school anthologies. The PowerPoint is very helpful to provide students examples and activities- and keep them in the right place! Thanks so much! ~Kim

Verb Mood... is a Common Core necessity! Verb Moods - Subjective. Conditional. Imperative. Interrogative. Indicative. I've tried to make this topic a little snazzy. Generally, students feel that verb moods are a bunch of big words that are not relevant to them. My goal is to connect a visual with each mood and have students understand each mood through various activities. This EATS lesson includes: --a very helpful graphic organizer -- the content standard and essential question -- preview vocabulary -- Fantastic PowerPoint with the definition and example of each mood: Indicative, Imperative, Interrogative, Conditional and Subjunctive -- a review -- a writing activity -- an Exit Ticket The graphic organizer works really well with my 8th graders! Students connect to the visuals and can use this g.o. with future assignments! This PowerPoint is accompanied by an EATS lesson plan. This lesson focuses on: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking, AND (especially) CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.1c Form and use verbs in the indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive mood. The Essential Questions used are: -- How can I use verbs correctly in the indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive moods? -- How can I form verbs correctly in the indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive moods? Thanks so much!- Kim Kroll

Secondary students will get a task card and determine the text structure of a passage. Cause and Effect, Compare and Contrast, Description, Problem-Solution, Sequence, and Chronology are the structures used in this NO PREP product. Twenty-one original reading selections are showcased. Focus: CCSS ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.5, 6.6, 7.5, 7.6, 8.5, 8.6, 9-10.5, 9-10.6 Included: ---- 21 original text structure Task Cards ---- Answer keys ---- Answer sheets ---- optional “Your Turn” activity ---- 6 “Your Turn” Task Cards ---- Text Structure printable worksheet --- Lesson/ Notes Just print, copy, and distribute. It's that easy! Students read a selection on each card and decide if the text structure is: Cause-Effect, Compare-Contrast, Description, Problem-Solution, Sequence, or Chronology. These cards are an easy way to check student comprehension, but can be used in many more ways. Try them as Entrance Tickets, Exit Tickets, Differentiation, Comprehension Check, or Homework… They might also be used as a springboard for discussion of how the author accomplishes his/ her purpose. One of my favorite ways to use is as follows: Make copies of each slide, but do not cut apart. Each student will answer all four items on one page. The next day, as students enter the room, they will receive the next page. Continue until all answers are completed. On the fifth day, students pair up and check answers. Give students time to re-read any passages that received a different answer from their partner. Turn in for a grade. Have students write on the task cards- or the provided answer sheets.

This graphic organizer will help students figure out the difference among Possessive, Plural, and Plural-possessive nouns. What's the difference? This product answers just that. Worth its weight in gold for my students! For some reason, this was a difficult concept. Even ADULTS confuse plurals and possessives. Think about how many Christmas cards you get from the Smith's or Jones's? (There is NO apostrophe on plurals, guys!) This printable shows the difference between plural, possessive, and plural- possessives. The clip art proves to be a valuable tool for student understanding! The 1-page printable is copied 4 times: once as a printable, once as a black and white printable, once as a fill-in-the- blanks graphic organizer and once as a graphic organizer without images. This product will easily help your students LEARN plurals and possessives! Thanks!

This 26- slide PowerPoint gives great background biographical information of America's beloved writer, O. Henry. Paired with a worksheet, you may use as an example of any historical figure for a research project. This resource can serve as a great introduction for any class studying O. Henry's short stories. The accompanying worksheet will assure students follow along with the PowerPoint presentation. The answer key is included. This is perfect to use as an example of a finished project- when students are assigned to make a PowerPoint on a historical figure.